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Top Rural Retreats

A “Holiday” in the truest sense where you can switch off from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. There’s a ‘Rural Cruise’ from every base where tranquillity and wildlife are the norm, whilst great country pubs and eateries are as abundant as the wildlife!

A few our most popular routes include:

Wootton Wawen

On your Anglo Welsh narrowboat you have the room with an amazing view, which is ideal to take in the picture perfect scenery as you cruise past.

From Wootton Wawen you can cruise in a number of directions, heading south for beautiful Stratford upon Avon, which is just a leisurely short cruise away the next morning. Explore the Shakespeare scene. Rich in culture and history, this beautiful town, set on the banks of the River Avon, is one of the most popular destinations in the UK. Why not moor up in your 'floating hotel room' and take time out to steep yourself in all things Stratford.

Stockton

Situated a short cruise from Braunston, the heart of the Midlands canal system Stockton Top Marina offers a wide range of cruising that brings back customers time and again. We are ideally placed for the Warwickshire Ring, giving a great one week cruise, but you can also wind steadily down the South Oxford Canal, or wander round to the North Oxford, and up on to the lockless Ashby canal.

Alternatively take a leisurely trip to Warwick, and back, and visit Warwick Castle, one of the best castles in the country. Said to be host to Britain's greatest medieval experience, Warwick, with its famous castle nestled in rolling landscaped gardens and a history dating back over 1000 years, is a fascinating place to visit. The historic market town itself is home to fine mediaeval timber-framed buildings, the beautiful Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick Racecourse, plus a variety of museums, shops, cafés, restaurants, parks and gardens.

Great Haywood

If you're the kind of person who likes lots of choices, then this is the base for you. We're situated on the crossroads (or should that be cross canals?) of the Staffordshire and Worcester and Trent and Mersey, so your first decision will be which way to go - and that depends on the cruising criteria.

The beautiful Tixall Wide is just 15 minutes cruise from the base where the canal opens up to the size of a lake. It was commissioned by the landowner in the early 1770s who wanted to enjoy a better view from his estate. We say thankyou to him as we now have a beautiful expanse of water where wildlife flourishes.

Further along the Staffordshire and Worcester canal you'll come across Victorian Wightwick Manor with complete William Morris interiors and colourful garden - and Kinver Edge with its unique rock-carved houses. Both just a short walk from the canal and well worth a visit.

As well as access to the four major 'Rings', the area is rich in history and heritage - stately homes, castles, gardens, pretty villages and welcoming traditional pubs...the perfect respite (and 'rest bite') after a hard day cruising!

Bunbury

We have a large fleet of boats cruising from Bunbury, our base set within the heart of rural Cheshire, next to the well-known 'Bunbury Staircase Lock'.

There's a choice of short and long breaks, which will take in the glorious English countryside through Cheshire and Shropshire or even the delights of North Wales.

Cruise the Shropshire Union Canal (the 'Shroppie') south with not a city in sight; bear off down the Middlewich Branch and cruise to the world famous Anderton Boat Lift. It's the world's first and the UK's only working boat lift. Time travel through the unique structure on board the Edwin Clark trip boat, journeying between the River Weaver and the Trent & Mersey Canal high above.

With an additional seven miles of The Montgomery Canal also recently restored, a cruise along 'The Monty' is a must for conservation and wildlife enthusiasts. With its 'Site of Special Scientiﬁc Interest' and "Special Area of Conservation in Wales" awards, this canal is cherished for its exceptional beauty.

Trevor

All Anglo Welsh holidays are memorable, but this one might literally come highest on the list! And it represents the 'Welsh' part of our name...

Trevor's awesome Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, nicknamed the 'Stream in the Sky' for obvious reasons, carries the Llangollen canal 126ft high above the River Dee. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument; a Grade I Listed structure and was granted World Heritage status in June 2009, putting it on an equal footing with the Great Barrier Reef and Statue of Liberty! It towers above the heart of this breathtaking 18km long site, stretching from Gledrid Bridge near Rhoswiel in Wales, to the Horseshoe Falls, on the River Dee.

Situated right on the doorstep of our picturesque base, you can choose the Llangollen cruise for the experience of a lifetime. In your boat, the effect is that of being suspended in mid-air. The views are spectacular, so don't forget your camera!

With delightful Llangollen town only a two hour cruise away, don't miss out on a visit to The Steam Railway Centre. Navigate the Llangollen to experience one of the UK's most stunning stretches of inland waterway. There are tunnels, lift bridges and not too many locks as you roll through the rolling plains, rich in wildlife. The Dee Valley with its little towns of Chirk and Corwen and Lake Bala, is a gateway of discovery to the hidden secrets of this fascinating area of North Wales.

Testimonials

Celebrity Traveller

"As always with these guys, the staff who showed us over the boat were lovely, the boat itself was really comfy and within minutes we were off and cruising."Stan Cullimore from 80's band "The Housemartins"

"Everything about the boat and the instruction was fantastic; and yes, women are better at driving narrowboats as well as cars!!! See you next year!"Judith from Surrey